Do you know why people see a bright light when they are faced with death? Some say that it is our brain firing rapidly giving us a feeling of euphoria; to eliminate suffering and pain before death comes. A synaptic response that lets us see our experiences and memories in a matter of seconds. If so, isn't it counter-intuitive that in a moment of death, we still must experience living? Was it necessary to remind us of our lives right before our very existence seizes to exist?

Think about it, why do all those people who encountered these phenomena are those that have near-death experiences. All their stories seem to line up, making us believe that it is true and valid. If it's a hoax, then surely their accounts would have been different, but hearing about it, they all said the same thing. Each and every one of them saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and then their whole life experience came rushing like a tidal wave of memories and emotion.

I have an idea, a hunch to be exact. Having experienced it firsthand, I know how it feels. When you are faced with death, you get really scared. Living is a pleasure that we can only experience once and suffice to say that when we think of it ending, we hold on to it more.

What I'm trying to say is, I guess it is our subconsciousness telling us that we still wanted to live. Life, in all honesty, is pretty amazing in one way or another. Yes, it may be hard at times and pretty boring mostly, but there are instances that we told ourselves "What a great way to live".

I was thinking about all of this when I remembered that I am slowly losing blood. I looked at my wrist and remembered that I just committed a mistake. "I fucked up", I muttered to myself, but I guess it's too late now. I just hope that it didn't end like this, sitting next to a bathtub, drenched in water mixed with blood. I even forgot to flush the toilet after I vomited earlier, the vile, sour odor is now permeating in the entire room.

I am now sitting here thinking deeply. Should I call for help? I guess it's too late now. I looked at the ceiling to reminisce that explosion of memories that I've experienced earlier. I closed my eyes, imagining every bit of it.

"Lily"

"Lily, wake up"

"You're gonna be late for school dear. Wake up now."

"~Mom." I whispered, tears flowing down from my eyes. "I'm sorry I did this."

_________________

~DING!

I heard a loud ringing to my ear; it was followed by a robotic female voice that is very monotonous and out of the norm.

"Game over, please step out of the chamber and await further instructions."

I quickly opened my eyes to see where I am. Water. I am currently at a chamber full of water.

I heard a loud thud, followed by a mechanism moving below me. Water started flowing out of the chamber, startling me for a bit. You can hear the slushing of the water due to the sudden movement inside the chamber. Water started draining which hastens the flow of liquid downwards. When all the water was drained, a glass door opened in front of me, followed by a gush of air towards me. The cold air somehow dried my naked body, but it mostly just gave me chills.

"Am I at the afterlife?", I thought to myself. I have imagined it to be all white and dazzling, like those described in the mangas that I've read before. I was expecting some angels staring right at me, holding trumpets and harps and singing beautiful melodies like one I've never heard of. Instead, I was greeted by a vast empty room, with a single light coming from the chamber that I have been. The whole place is pitch black, and I can even see some moss at the walls of the room that I'm in.

"This is very unsightly.", I have yet to fully understand what is happening, but I am currently not impressed. If I have known that the afterlife would look like this, I would have rather endured my life and stayed at my pink room full of plushies and twinkle lights.

As soon as I stepped out of the chamber, the whole thing started to move. It went downwards until it was gone. I was now left here in a pitch-black, empty room that resembles those in the horror movies. My mind started working, and when it did, all it gave me are warning signals that the place I am in right now is not a good place to be. Beads of sweat started to form on my forehead but I decided to calm myself.

I stood in place for a while before inspecting the whole area that I am in. Because the whole place is dark and I can't see a thing, I raised my hand and walked in a circle until I felt the cold wall that covered this whole area. As I did, a door finally opened. Light immediately filled the entire room, and upon closer inspection, the whole place is much decrepit than I have anticipated. Moss is not the only thing thriving along those walls, but also vines that look like it has been there for years.

When my eyes finally adjusted to the blinding light from the outside, I started to walk slowly towards it, making sure that I kept my guard up in preparation for what's to come.

What I saw is amazing indeed. I was greeted by a large hallway full of doors on each side, people are scrambling all over the place like they are in a hurry. Everyone was holding stacks of papers on their arms or pushing carts of boxes while rushing to get to their destination.

Despite the chaos, no words can be heard, only the quick steps of them walking or the squeaking of the carts are what you can hear. Their coordinated movements are very precise, like a melody from an orchestra that was conducted by the greatest conductor of all time.

I was naked the whole time, but it seems that no one cared to even look at me. This made me wonder what place this is and what they are doing, but as soon as I tried to ask one them, a guy grabbed me immediately.

He handed me over a sheet of white fabric to cover my body, and then he smiled. "You have finally finished your first test run, subject 001. Congratulations, you did very well."

I looked at him disparagingly, curiosity filling my mind.

"You are now ready to get to your next assignment." his smile still painted all over his face.

What is this place? Who are these people? Why did he call me 'subject 001' and what's up with that next assignment that he just told me? Questions upon question started to pop up in my head.